Blog Archives

New User-Friendly Storefront at Kosmic Krystals!

4/18/2016

Last month I announced the release of my newly remodeled website, as well as my first official jewelry collection. Today, I am proud to share that you can now shop Kosmic Krystals jewelry using a seamless e-commerce experience!

You can now easily browse and search the user-friendly shop sections to find the magical gemstone jewelry that you love. My first official collection, the shimmery and lustrous Modern Mermaid Collection, is now seamlessly shoppable on my own domain with the rest of my current jewelry.

The Modern Mermaid Collection by Kosmic Krystals

The new Modern Mermaid Collection by Kosmic Krystals

New cohesive collections will continue to be released every two months for the rest of 2016.

The jewelry in each collection will share a theme, gemstone types and colors, and wire work design styles. Each collection will offer coordinating and complementary jewelry options ranging from dainty accessories to truly bold statement jewelry. The collection themes are each rooted in segments of my current jewelry, and each grouping of jewelry will be further expanded and developed. Until each collection is complete, you can browse mini-collections of coordinating jewelry in my new shop sections.

The next release, the Ancient Ocean Collection, is coming July 15th, 2016. (Edit: Ancient Ocean Collection release was postponed from May 30th to July 15th, so that the finishing touches can be polished to perfection.)

The collection is filled with ancient ammonite fossils and fossilized coral, both which share stunningly unique geometric patterns. The fossils will be set with whimsical swirls and spirals of sterling silver wire that enhance their natural beauty.

Ammonite Fossil Necklace by Kosmic Krystals

All of my collections will include both intricate one-of-a-kind jewelry as well as simpler refined repeatable jewelry in some of my most popular designs. Both lines coordinate beautifully together in jewelry sets. However, once the one-of-a-kind pieces are gone, they are gone for good!

Don't miss out on a unique piece of jewelry that is perfect for you. Join my newsletter below to shop new collections before the public! When the Ancient Ocean Collection is released on May 30th newsletter subscribers will get a password for access to the collection for 12 hours before everyone else.

Currently, by joining my newsletter you can also enter to win a pair of sliced ammonite fossil necklaces from Kosmic Krystals to share with your other half. (Edit: Contest ended 5/20, but another contest will be coming soon! Join the newsletter to know first.)

Join the Community

Win this Ammonite Fossil Necklace Pair from Kosmic Krystals

Edit: Contest ended 5/20/16, but join the community to know about the next one!

Now that you're in touch with what is coming for Kosmic Krystals, take a look at the shiny new store.

There you can see more enchanting and magical gemstone jewelry in a fresh, clean, and organized layout.

Use the link below to browse the Modern Mermaid Collection and the organized mini-collections, or search for jewelry I've made with your favorite gem.

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New Shop Sections

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Four April Birthstones - Stunning Alternatives to Diamond

4/5/2016

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Is Diamond really the only April birthstone?

Are Diamonds the only birthstone for April? Definitely not!

If you've looked into birthstones, you likely found that there really isn't any one "correct" birthstone for each month. Ancient, traditional, and modern birthstone calendars have been developed by different cultures or organizations over the centuries. You actually have quite a few options to find a birthstone that you connect with, and can afford! April is an important month to consider alternative birthstones, as the "traditional" birthstone for April is diamond, a notoriously costly gem (and not just financially). This article covers the properties of the four alternative April Birthstones, some with ancient roots, giving you numerous other stunning choices..

Diamonds often leave a trail of conflict, blood, and environmental degradation in their wake. In addition to the tragedy around them, the price of diamonds is kept high by regulating the amount of diamonds that are released to the market. Diamonds are not really as rare as we were taught to believe, and their marketing is carefully calculated to cultivate desire for the gem. Due to the ethical, moral, and financial issues with diamond, many people look for alternative to diamonds for April birthstones.

This post details each of the four alternative April birthstones:

Sapphire
Opal
White Topaz
Quartz

Here you will learn the geologic and metaphysical properties of each April birthstone. Some of these options come from ancient traditions and were used as April birthstones in certain cultures long before diamond. Multiple modern alternative birthstones have also been added to modern birthstone calendars for their similarity to diamond. These stones bring clear shine and sparkle at a much lower moral and financial cost.

The History of Ancient, Traditional, and Modern Birthstones

Numerous birthstone systems have been in existence for thousands of years. For example, the Ayurvedic birthstone calendar from ancient India dates back to 1500 B.C. It has long been believed that birthstones bring good fortune to wearers. Many ancient cultures including the Hebrew, Arabic, Hindu, Roman, Italian, Russian, Polish and Spanish all had their own birthstone calendars. Many of these calendars had similarities due to connectivity between cultures, as well as differences due to gemstone availability or prominence in certain regions.

These ancient calendars have had some influence on traditional and modern birthstone calendars. In 1912 the National Association of Jewelers compiled the "traditional" birthstone calendar in an attempt to standardize the birthstone systems, as well as to provide gems that they felt were accessible to everyday Americans.

Other jewelry associations, like the American Gem Trade Association, have since developed "modern" birthstone calendars by adapting the 1912 list. Some modern calendars add more birthstone choices to some months, many of which are lower cost alternatives with visual similarities to the traditional choices. The more recently added stones are sometimes referred to as "alternative" or "secondary" birthstones, as are ancient birthstones that have nearly been forgotten. Regardless of the term, you may end up feeling more connected with alternative birthstone choices rather than your primary traditional birthstone.

Alternative April Birthstones

On most of the big semi-"official" birthstone calendars diamond is often listed as the only April birthstone. However, this may have more to do with diamond marketing than history.

There are two gemstones from ancient traditions that were used as April birthstones in certain cultures long before diamond. There are also some modern alternative birthstones for April which were added for their visual similarity to diamond, bringing clear color and eye-catching sparkle at a much lower cost.

Sapphire

Sapphire was actually the April birthstone in the old Roman, Italian, Russian, Hebrew and Arabic calendars. Sapphire is a precious variety of the mineral corundum, which comes in a wide variety of colors. The most popular and recognizable color of sapphire is a brilliant blue, but you can choose from pink, orange, yellow, black, or even white sapphire.

Metaphysically, sapphire is believed to bring inner peace and serenity, and to assist with releasing unwanted thoughts and mental tension. It is thought to help release depression and frustration, while promoting self-expression. Blue sapphire specifically is associated with spiritual truth and growth.

Opal

Opal is the birthstone for April in Tibetan birthstone calendar, which is sometimes referred to as the Mystical birthstone calendar. Opal is known for its stunning flashes of colors, a visual spectacle caused by interactions between light and tightly packed balls of silica. Opal is a delicate gem, and is technically a "mineraloid", not a mineral, because it is "amorphous", meaning it has no crystal structure.

The Romans held this birthstone of April to be a symbol of hope and purity. Ancient Greeks believed it brought the power of foresight to it's owner. In today's metaphysical circles opal is prized for its fine vibration and it's reflective properties. It is thought to absorb and amplify ones thoughts, feelings, and characteristics, and to help bring them to the surface.

White Topaz

White topaz seems to have little historical claim to fame as an April birthstone, but it is used as one for its visual similarity to diamond. White topaz is promoted by countless jewelry companies as an alternative April birthstone and alternative wedding ring stone for its similarity to diamond. The white topaz used in jewelry is often cut and faceted to reveal a brilliant sparkle.

Metaphysically white topaz is believed to help the wearer be more aware of their thoughts and actions, and the effects that these have. It is also though to help remove trapped and stagnant energy to help the wearer move forward.

Quartz Crystal

Quartz is another alternative April birthstone recently chosen for its clear color and similarity to diamond. Clear quartz, sometimes called rock crystal, has also been designated in Britain as a birthstone for April. Quartz gemstones also come in colored varieties, specific impurities in quartz' crystal structure create yellow citrine gemstones or purple amethyst crystals. However, when using Quartz as an April birthstone the classic clear quartz is ideal. You can wear rough crystal points, or sparkly faceted quartz gemstones.

Faceted Quartz Gemstones, and Alternative April Birthstone

Known as the "Universal Crystal", quartz is a popular and powerful stone. Metaphysically, quartz is thought to amplify, balance, store, focus, and transmit energy. It is also a stone of clarity, and can increase inspiration and creativity. It is also useful to improve concentration and retention of knowledge. Even today the powerful vibrations of quartz crystals are used in electronics, crystal healing, and rituals.

Quartz Variety: Herkimer Diamonds

An special alternative April birthstone from the quartz family is Herkimer Diamond. Herkimer diamonds are not diamonds at all, but are unique quartz crystals from Herkimer County, NY. Their name bears the term "diamond" because they form as double terminated crystals, giving them the physical shape of a diamond with points at each end. The are prized in metaphysical circles for spiritual properties.

Herkimer Diamond, an Alternative April Birthstone

Herkimer diamonds are considered the most powerful of quartz crystals. It is also thought to have a crystal memory that can store information, as do some other quartz crystals. This really isn't too crazy an idea considering that microchips use a component of quartz (silicon) as a semi-conductor in computer chips!

There are numerous options for birthstone for April, each with varying degree of historic roots and a multitude of metaphysical properties. What is really important when it comes to jewelry is wearing a stone that YOU love and are drawn to. You have many options to find an April birthstone with a style, history, and properties that you connect with.

Alternative April Birthstones: Opal, Sapphire, Quartz, and White Topaz.

Visit Kosmic Krystals to see the elegant jewelry with your favorite gemstones.

Intricate yet tasteful wire jewelry with a fantasy flair, designed to bring out your inner magic.

Kosmic Krystals designs gemstone jewelry with an enchantingly elegant style for unique women.

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